Detection of Landau band coupling induced rearrangement of the Hofstadter butterfly

The spectrum of two-dimensional 2D electrons subjected to a weak 2D potential and a perpendicular magnetic field is composed of Landau bands with a fractal internal pattern of subbands and minigaps referred to as Hofstadterʹs butterfly. The Hall conductance may serve as a spectroscopic tool as each filled sub-band contributes a specific quantized value. Advances in sample fabrication now finally offer access to the regime away from the limiting case of a very weak potential. Complex behavior of the Hall conductance is observed and assigned to Landau band coupling induced rearrangements within the butterfly.